4/25/19

Isaac Hart

Players of a popular online fighting-game say they're having issues with Ninetendo's online services. Many of them are frustrated, because the websites on occasion havegone down completely. Bobcat Update's Isaac Hart has more on the story.

The Super Smash Brothers franchise has come a long way since the first entry was released in 1999 with eight playable Nintendo fighters. The latest entry in the series, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, boasts more than 70 fighters and it received a sizable update  last week. However, when attempting to download the update to their consoles, players encountered errors and connection problems.
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Nintendo's track record for online and online multiplayer services is far from spotless. According to top players, this isn't the first time Ninetendo has had poor online functionality. There have been similar problems with earlier versions of the Smash Brothers series.
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Prior to Ultimate's release, Nintendo's online play was free, but that's no longer the case for the Nintendo Switch. Players are paying for an almost identical experience that they once received for free. 
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Nintendo has several game releases planned that will also require the same paid service to play online. Some players say they aren't quite sure they're on-board for that.
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4/24/19

Mallorie Sanders

The head coach of Texas State's men's basketball team has had his contract extended. Bobcat Update's Mallorie Sanders has spoken with Danny Kaspar to learn more about what the extension means to him.

Texas State University has extended head coach Danny Kaspar's contract through the 20-23 season. Kaspar says he's very grateful for the opportunity to continue being part of the Texas State men's basketball team.
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Coach Kaspar has been head coach of the basketball team since 20-13. His teams have had 98 victories. The 2018-2019 season was the best one yet, with the Bobcats' 24-and-10 record. Kaspar says he hopes the basketball program continues to improve.
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In addition to leading the team's success on the court, Kaspar has received many awards for his coaching. They include being named the Hoops H-D (dot)com 20-19 Coach of the Year for the Sunbelt Conference as well as the 20-19 Hugh Durham National Coach of  the Year. 
SU: With Coach Kaspar's contract extension, the Bobcats are looking forward to many more successful basketball seasons. For Bobcat Update, I'm Mallorie Sanders.  

ReGine Murray

April is the month of Sexual Consent Awareness, and Men Against Violence is opening up conversation about what this month means. Bobcat Update's ReGine Murray has the story.

Men Against Violence is a peer educational group that tries to break the traditional norms of what is supposed to be masculinity and ways that men are taught to behave. It challenges men to redefine male and female relationships, and create meaningful friendships with other men. They also address other topics, such as, L-B-G-T-Q relationships, consent and hate crimes. 
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Men Against Violence held a series of events this week to bring awareness to issues related to sexual assault. Monday's event was the 'Consent Pizza Party', which provided free pizza to students in exchange for them sitting down and having an open dialogue about what consent is and how to properly have that discussion with one's partner. 
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The series of events will continue this week, tonight you can participate by going to the screening of "Audrie and Daisy" in the Alkek Teaching  Theater from 6-8 and going to the SLUTS Dance at Sewell Park tomorrow night from 6:30 to 8:30.
SU: Get involved with Men Against Violence, learn more about consent and ask your partner what kind of pizza they like. For Bobcat Update, I'm ReGine Murray. 

4/23/19

Preston Cox

Texans have a couple of home teams to root for in the first round of the N-B-A playoffs. The Spurs and Rockets are playing this week against the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz, respectively. In the spirit of March madness, the N-B-A is encouraging fans to fill out their own N-B-A brackets. Preston Cox takes a shot at learning which teams are favored by Bobcats.

There is a one-million-dollar grand prize for anyone who can fill out a perfect bracket, so we challenged some members of the student body to choose who they expect to win: 
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In the great words of Fergie, let's play some basketball. For Bobcat Update, I'm Preston Cox.

Stephen Findley

The Student Recreation Center at Texas State has reached a milestone. Bobcat Update's Kyle Findley has the story.

SU: This week Texas State University's Student Rec Center celebrates its 25th anniversary, and it's also the 10th year anniversary of the 2009 renovations that added more facilities and amenities to  campus. When the Student Rec Center was built in 1994 it housed four indoor multi-purpose courts, an indoor track, racquetball courts and other small features. Looking at where the recreation center is now, 25 years later,  it is almost a whole new building.
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Along with the new features, the student rec center serves as a great place for students to get involved.
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Tuition pays for using the rec so there's nothing to lose by going in and seeing what interests you. If you can't find anything yet, changes and additions are always happening so who knows what the next  25 will bring. For Bobcat Update, I'm Kyle Findley.

4/20/19

Hannah Shaw

Texas State is home to many diverse and unique clubs. Bobcat Update's Hannah Shaw tells us about one, focused on the sport of Quidditch.
 
Quidditch, of course, caters to fans of Harry Potter. At Texas State, it's a club sport and campus organization.
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Texas State Quidditch plays in a highly competitive league that allows men and women to engage in a full-contact sport. However, there's also a less physical version called house games, for members to play once a month.
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Members of the organization say that Quidditch is welcoming to all students even if they haven't seen the movies or read the books.
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Alex Bulko

Hazing is a concern at many college campuses. Universities have rules, but now the Texas legislature has to decided to act as well. Bobcat Update's Alex Bulko has the story.


The Texas Senate recently passed an anti-hazing bill aimed at preventing such incidents on college campuses. If the bill becomes law, it would redefine the legal definition of hazing.
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The current definition doesn't include forcing people to consume alcohol or preventing them from recording or reporting acts of hazing. Prosecuting violators can be difficult because of the vague definition of hazing. However, the bill is not just aimed at Greek organizations.
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State lawmakers have been feeling pressure to pass the bill following the deaths of several college students over the past five years, including undergraduates at Texas State, U-T, Texas A-and-M and Texas Tech. The bill not only clarifies acts of hazing but makes it easier to prosecute violators as well. At Texas State, efforts are already underway to prevent potential issues.
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SU While the bill has yet to be introduced to the House floor, Texas State still plans to uphold and maintain strict hazing standards across campus. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alex Bulko.

Allison Johnson

The warmer weather means you may be looking for outdoor fun. Floating the river and hanging out on the square are popular activities this time of year, but if you're looking for a change of scenery, check out what's in store at a nearby disc golf course. Bobcat Update's Allison Johnson has the story. 
 
Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club opened in San Marcos in 2014. The club has courses for all levels of players.
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Many players bring their own gear, but the pro shop is loaded with equipment to rent or buy. Pro Shop Manager Kevin Ballew says visitors enjoy the atmosphere of the course.
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Flying Armadillo regulars enjoy that the course is family friendly and in well-kept condition.
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Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities while at the course.
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Flying Armadillo Disc Golf Club is a bring-your-own-beer establishment. Also, bring your own picnic. The course has a four-story deck complete with picnic tables for players to enjoy food and drinks. It's open seven days a week from seven a-m to ten p-m.
SU: The course is located off Hilliard Road. Now I'm going to go play a round of disc golf. For Bobcat Update, I'm Allison Johnson.

4/17/19

Alicia Almendariz

April is Sexual Consent Awareness month, and Bobcats across campus are participating in the  movement. Bobcat Update's Alicia Almendariz (AHL-MEHN-DAH-REES) has the story.
 
I ASK, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, is a campaign spreading awareness to end sex without consent. Sex without consent is a criminal assault.
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According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 67 men experience sexual assault in their lives. The Student Health Center and Men Against Violence are promoting the campaign across campus to encourage a positive conversation about sex and consent.
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Texas State offers multiple resources for sexual assault victims, such as the Student Health Center, counseling services and Title IX. Title IX, amended in 1972, encourages sexual assault SURVIVORS to continue their education.
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Men Against Violence will host various events including a movie screening of Audrie and Daisy and the S-L-U-T-S dance party at Sewell Park. The events will begin on April 22nd and end on April 26th.  SU: For more information on how to join the I ASK movement, you can visit the Student Health Center web page or  NSVRC.org. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alicia Almendariz.

4/16/19

Tynisha Jackson

Some Christian organizations at Texas State are spreading the word about their worship night. Bobcat Update's Tynisha Jackson has the story.

United is what they call their night of worship. Making the event possible are the groups Delight Ministries, BYX (bucks), Bobcat Orphans and Sigma Phi Lambda. Their common goal is to promote fellowship.
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This is the second annual United event the organizations have put on. 
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The organizations hope to line up more volunteers to participate in planning next year's event. 
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4/15/19

Victoria Vasquez

The event is called Bobcat Build, and every spring more than four-thousand students are dispatched to 300 job sites in Hays County to help with renovation projects. However, because of bad weather Saturday, this year's Bobcat Build had to be cancelled for many participants. Victoria Vasquez has the story.
 
On Saturday, Hays county had a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms. That didn't stop student organizations from gathering for the 15th Annual Bobcat Build. Texas State Senior Alex Molina says he came to show his appreciation for San Marcos.
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Once the students were sent to their job sites the rain began to fall, prompting Texas State officials to issue an e-mail that the event be cancelled. Texas State Senior Chase Massey says he was disappointed the event had to be called off. 
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While Bobcat Build was canceled within the city, there were some organizations in the county and beyond that were able to finish their assignments. For Bobcat Update, I'm Victoria Vasquez.

4/14/19

Cartney Sharp

Texas State is getting some national attention, but not necessarily in a good way. Cartney Sharp has more in this Bobcat Update.

The Student Government Senate at Texas State recently voted to ban the conservative group Turning Point U-S-A from campus after accusations of hate speech. The decision came following one of the longest Senate meetings in the school's history. The meeting was full of tears, anger and screams as both sides debated for more than three hours.
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Student behavior at the Senate meeting caught the attention of Governor Greg Abbott, who stated in a Tweet that schools like Texas State should not receive state funding if they don't stand in support of the First Amendment.
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The raucous meeting also gained national attention. Many commentaries have been written regarding student behavior during the meeting and the Senate's attempted infringement on freedom of speech. The Student Government president vetoed the decision, and the university's administration addressed the Senate's lack of authority to ban the group from campus.
SU: The decision has been made and Turning Point U-S-A will remain on campus. For those hoping to get involved in future decisions like these you can attend the Student Senate meetings held every Monday in the L-B-J Student Center Teaching Theater. For Bobcat Update, I'm Cartney Sharp.

Tom Vazquez

The Texas State spring football game offers a glimpse into the program's future. Bobcat Update's Tom Vazquez has the story. 

New head coach Jake Spavital and the Texas State Bobcats took steps in a new direction for the program this past weekend. Duking it out across the field were the offense in the white and the defense in maroon. Both fought hard, but ultimately defense ruled. The game highlighted the strengths of the defense and shed more light on what needs to be changed on offense. Fans are looking forward to seeing what Spavital does with the team.
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Some alumni say they're noticing changes on and off the field.
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Fans like David Navarro say that the team could make it to a bowl game later this year but more students are needed in the stands to make that happen.
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Last season the Bobcats went one-and-seven in conference play, three-and-nine overall, but that losing record could  be flipped as soon as next fall. The Texas State football machine is still under maintenance. There's hope the engine will soon be running all cylinders.
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4/13/19

Josh Davis

Texas State will be doing something for laughs next semester -- when the Theater Department has its first ever comedy class. Bobcat Update's Josh Davis has the story.

With a variety of open mics and a comedy-based student organization, San Marcos is home to a fast-growing comedy scene.  Soon students will be able to learn about comedy in the classroom. Starting next semester,  Vic Shuttee, a grad student at Texas State, will be teaching creating comedy.
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In the class, students will learn how to write stand-up and sketches, and they will perform improvisational comedy. Sophomore English major Max Foster is signed up to take the class next semester.
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Shuttee says he worked closely with Comedy Association president Garrett Buss to create the class.
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The class is full for next semester, but if students are interested in the class, they can email Vic Shuttee at VRS45@txstate.edu to be put on a wait list for future semesters. For Bobcat Update, I'm Josh Davis.

Alexis Richard

Yoga is a combination of breathing techniques, exercise and meditation, and it can help students deal with their stresses. Bobcat Update's Alexis Richard(Ree-Shard) has more on the benefits that yoga can provide:

College students are dealing with daily stresses from class and work and adjusting to adulthood. It's common for college students to be stressed. They have parental expectations, social anxieties and financial burdens. Yoga may be worth a try rather than lashing out or partying too hard. It's a great way to focus solely on one's self.
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Experts say not only can yoga reduce daily stresses, but it can help with stress prevention. They say breathing exercises can help ease dthose stresses go away. Just take that time to better yourself and relax your mind.
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Many College students also suffer from lack of sleep due to late night study sessions and overexposure to technology. Yoga has proven to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and reduce the chances of insomnia. Stretching out the body, it can release many of the toxins that sit in the body unattended and can enhance your body's performance on a daily.
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Yoga is all about becoming one with your mind, body and soul. Practicing is different for everyone. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alexis Richard.

Raven Correa

Wake the Dead Coffeeshop is known for its brew and craft beers, but on every second Monday of the month customers have another reason to hang out there. Bobcat Update's Raven Correa (Core-ay-uh) tells us about the coffeeshop's scaly attraction.

Homies with Scales brings Reptile Night to the San Marcos community. Homies with Scales is an educational program.
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Reptile Night is meant for all ages. Participants can learn about reptiles and interact with them.
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The goal behind Homies with Scales is to overcome misconceptions about reptiles. Organizers want the animals NOT to be perceived as mean or scary.  
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Some say Reptile Night has helped make them feel more comfortable.
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SU: To hang out with some scaly friends like my friend here, Bertha, visit wake the dead on May 8th for reptile night. For Bobcat Update, I'm Raven Correa, and this is Bertha. 

Emily Garcia

Students are experiencing problems finding parking on campus -- even in lots reserved for those who have parking permits. Bobcat Update's Emily Garcia has more.

Kassie Carrell commutes to Texas State from New Braunfels, and she purchased a purple parking permit so that she would be able to park on campus. She arrives at school an hour early each morning to scout out parking, only to find the spaces for which she has a permit have already been taken. She then resorts to two-hour parking on nearby streets to make it to class on time, which means she often risks receiving a ticket.
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Carrell's main goal is to spread awareness of parking issues on campus. She wants the university and the City of San Marcos to be aware of the problem.
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Other students have also found parking on campus to be difficult.
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The City of San Marcos is considering adding parking meters on streets near the university, but some students say meters won't resolve the issue.
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For Bobcat Update, I'm Emily Garcia.

Keiyah Johnson

Some retailers in San Marcos are making it easier way for their customers to tip employees who offer good service. Bobcat Update's Keiyah Johnson has the story. 


Beyond Grooming is one of the small businesses using Square Inc. Management, which makes it easier for cashless transactions, including tips. Credit or debit cards are required.
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Even though customers are asked to tip in front of the employee and other people in line, some say that it's faster way to pay and they don't mind tipping for good service.
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A-J's barbecue in San Marcos uses the Clover and Square payment systems. The owner says that his employees get tipped MORE with the system.
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Owners help pay for the tipping service.
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With small businesses converting to payment systems like Square and Clover, customers can leave their tips fair and square. For Bobcat Update, I'm Keiyah Johnson.

Alejandro Bazan

Texas State offers helpful services for students who are graduating and hoping to launch their careers. Bobcat Update's Alejandro Bazan has the story. 

Among the many services provided by the university's Career Services division are job fairs, mock interviews and a wardrobe, called the Career Closet, for those who need professional attire for meeting potential employers.
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The university wants students to have some work experience in whatever career path they wish to take. 
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The assistance doesn't end at graduation. Alumni are encouraged to use Career Services when they feel the need.
Standup: For more information visit Career Services at the LBJ Student Center Suite 5-7.1. For Bobcat Update, I'm Alejandro Bazan.

4/11/19

Darrell Green

Some students at Texas State University want to ban a group called Turning Point U-S-A. Bobcat Update's Darrell Green has the story.

The Student Government at Texas State has passed a bill that would prohibit Turning Point U-S-A, which is a conservative-leaning student organization. Student leaders say the group has created  a hostile environment that includes the harassment of students and professors who don't agree with Turning Point's views. However, the president of the group says the ban infringes on their free speech rights.
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T-P-U-S-A says it identifies, organizes, and empowers free-market activists.
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In a statement, the Texas State administration says student government doesn't have the authority unilaterally to kick anyone off campus. Such bans would be the result of university-imposed disciplinary sanctions.
SU: Student Government voted to kick Turning Point USA off campus but the University made a statement saying that Student Government doesn't have the power. For Bobcat Update I'm Darrell  Green